Poultry plucking machine



y 1953 e. w. JOHNSON 2,637,067

POULTRY PLUCKING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1949 2 SHEETS-SlilEET 1- a J ,v /4 Z a w 0 3 M u I 7 if t 4 s- 0 /fi in a a! 0 INVENTOR, 69/107 JZ/iPXM/V.

y 5, 1953 G. w. JOHNSON 2,637,067

POULTRY PLUCKING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1949 2 SHEETS-"SHEET 2 Illllllll A =-.-..=E II -..--.E A?

Patented May 5, 1953 POULTRY PLUCKING MACHINE Gordon W. Johnson, Raytown, Mo., assignor to Gordon Johnson Company, Kansas ,a corporation of Missouri City, Mo.,

Application July 11, 1949, Serial No. 104,037

3 Claims. (Cl. 1711.1)

i This invention relates to new and useful improvements in poultry plucking machines, and has particular reference to poultry plucking machines of the rotary drum type.

In poultry plucking machines wherein feathers are removed from the fowl by means of flexible,

resilient fingers mounted on the peripheries of rotatably driven drums, it has been found advantageoustor'nount the fingers on the drum pivotally, about axes parallel to the axis of the drum. This permits the weight and resilience of the fingers to be selected for maximum efficiency of picking, while the pivotal mounting permits the fingers to be deflected to pass around the body of the fowl. A disadvantage of this arrangement has been that whenever a finger became worn at either its pivot or at its fowl contacting portions, the entire finger had necessarily to be replaced. The principal object of the present invention is, therefore, the provision of a poultry picking machine of the class described wherein the resilient fingers are each fixed in rigidmembers which are in turn pivotally mounted on the drums. By this arrangement use may be made of metallic pivot members having good wearing characteristics, and the resilient fingers may be individually removed and replaced when necessary. Valuable economice are thus effected, since the pivot members are virtually indestructible and the fingers themselves are more economical to manufacture.

Another object is the provision of a poultry plucking machine of the class described wherein the pivot members may be removed individually.

A further object is the provision of means whereby the resilient fingers are secured against accidental removal from the pivot members.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, dependability and efficiency of operation, and ease and convenience of servicing.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the specification, reference will be had to the drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of a poultry plucking machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line IIIIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3, with the outer end portions of the fingers broken away.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line V--V of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged and forshortened section taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 5.

7 Fig. 8 isa fragmentary section taken on line VIII-VIII of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line IX-IX of Fig. '7.

In each of the view the flexible resilient fingers are shown extended radially to the drums, in the position into which they are urged by centrifugal force when the drums are rotated. Like numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies to a base on which are rigidly mounted two parallel upright end frames 4. A pair of horizontal drums 6 and8 are carried by said end frames in horizontally spaced apart parallel relation, each of said drums havingend shafts l0 and H respectively carried for rotation in bearings l2 and i3 respectively mounted on said end frames.

Shafts l0 and H are extended past bearings l2 and 13 at one end of drums 6 and i3, and pulleys M and {6 are fixed respectively to the extended portions of said shafts. Said pulleys are respectively connected by belts l8 and 20 with pulleys 22 and 24, said last named pulleys being carried rigidly on the shaft 26 of a motor 28 mounted rigidly on base 2. Belt i8 is crossed, while belt 20 is not, thereby providing counter-rotation of the drums, as indicated by the directional arrows in Figs. 2 and 4.

Each of drums 6 and 8 includes a tubular hub 30 coaxial with end shafts l0 and H, and a plurality of discs 32 fixed concentrically on said hub and spaced equally along the length of said hub. Extending between each successive pair of discs, parallel to hub 32, are a plurality of rods 34., said rods being spaced equally about the peripheries of said discs. Each of said rods extends through its supporting discs, and is retained therein by wires 36 inserted through said rods adjacent the outer surfaces of said discs, as shown in Figs. 4 to 6. It will be noted that the rods 34 between successive pairs of discs 32 are circumferentially staggered, in order to facilitate removal of each rod individually.

Mounted pivotally on each of rods 34 is a holder member 38, best shown in Figs. 4 to 8.

Each of said holders is substantially channel shaped, being disposed longitudinally parallel to rod 36 and being open along one edge and of such length as to fit freely between discs 32. Said channel has a relatively narrow inner side wal1 40, and a relatively broad outer side wall 42. Said'channel is filled in solid at intervals along its length to provide bearings M for rod 34. It will be noted that rod 34 is disposed close to the inner wall 40 of the holder, and this disposition, together with the relatively greater bulk of outer wall 42, causes the holders to assume the position shown in Fig. 4 by centrifugal force when the drums are rotated. Outer wall 32 is extended longitudinally at each end to form stops 46 overlapping the edges of discs 32 to limit the pivotal movement of ,the holder on rod 34.

Each of holders 38 carries a plurality of elongated fingers 48 made of a flexible, resilient material such as soft rubber or the like. The body portion of each finger is substantially-semi-c'ircular in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 9, and its curved face is formed topresent apluralityfof transversely extending ribs or ridges 50. The base" or inner end portion 52 of each finger is rectangular in cross-section, as shown in Fig.- 8, andis taperingly enlarged toward its end. In mounting the finger in the holder; the outer or free end'of the fi ger. is. .inserted outyvardly through a v rectangular hole 54 provided therefor in'outer wall 42 J of thenl older, and the 4 entire body portion of the finger is drawn therethrough. The,base,.52 of the finger is,- compressedasit is drawn through the hole until grooves 55 formed in opposite sides ,ofsaid fing rbase engage ,wal l,4 2 at opposite sides of said hole. The baseof the fingeris thus held firmly in the holder. .Duetotheiactthat finger base 52 extends closely ad acent pivot rod 34, the fingerscannbe inserted, only when said rod is removed, and said rod prevents accidentalremoval of the finger. from its holder.

Holders.38.,r nay be proportionr-id ,to hold any desired number of fingers. .In the drawing the J frame, a rotatably driven hub carried by said frame, a plurality of longitudinally spaced discs fixed concentrically on said hub, a plurality of of said rods, said finger holding member comprising a: channel shaped member extending longitudinally of said rod and being provided with holes in the wall thereof transverse to said rod,

holders are shown holding three and ,four, fingers each, in such relation that the fin gersof circumferentially successive holdersare relatively stasgered, as shown in. Figs. 5 and 6. 'lhebearing portions 44 0f the ,holdersare disposed to permit 4 this relationship of the. fingers.

In operation-drums Band 8 -are rotated byinotor 28. in the directions indicated by the arrows in Fig 2. Thefingers assume positions, radial to the drums, .due to the aetion.of centriiugaliiorce both on the holders v3 8 andpn the fingers themselves.

As the. carcass of afowl is introducedbetwfien the drums, it is contacted with a. whipping, wiping motionby the ribbed surfacesof the fingers and the feathers are thereby removed from the carcass. Providingpivotal imounting forthe resilient fingers permits the. weight length, and resilience of the fingers to beselected solely on the basis-of optimum pi clging efficiency, since the pivotal mountingof the fingers provides for their deflection topassabout the fowl -carcasswithout particular regard to the properties of the, fingers themselves.

Applicants, structure has the. advantages of permitting the use of ,hard durableholders, thereby virtuallyeliminating a common pointof wear in fingers utilizingresilient ,fingers; locking the fingers securelyin placegand permitting the easy removal and replacement of wornfingers without disturbing the remainde of ,the fingers.

Although I haveshown a specific embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that many minor variations of construction and operation could be made without departing from .thespiritof the invention, and it is thereforerequested that my protection extend to all subjectmatter properly falling within the sc ope,of the appendedclaims.

What I claimis:

1. A poultry plucking machine comprising a ,andan elongated flexible, resilient finger adapted to be inserted outwardly through each of said holes, isaidfinger having a taperingly enlarged base adapted-to wedge securely in said hole.

2. A poultry plucking machine comprising a -f; rame, a rotatably driven hub carried by said frame, a plurality of longitudinally spaced discs fixedconcentrically on said hub, a plurality of rods extending between each successive pair of said discs, said rods being parallel to said hub and spaced circumferentially thereabout, a rigid finger holding member mounted pivotally on each of said rods, said finger holding member comprising a channel shaped member extending longitudinally of said rod and being provided with holes in the Wall thereof transverse to said rod, and an elongated flexible, resilient finger adapted to be'inserted outwardly through each of said holes, said finger having a taperingly enlarged base adapted to wedge securely in said hole, said finger base having transverse grooves formed in opposite sides thereof for engaging. said holder member adjacent said holes.

3. A poultry plucking machine comprising a frame, a rotatably driven hub carried by said frame, a plurality of longitudinally spaced. discs fixed concentrically on said hub, a plurality of rods extending between each successive pair of said discs, said rods being parallel to said hub spaced circumferentially thereabout, a. rigid. finger holding member mounted pivotally on each of said rods,,said finger holding member com prising a, channelshapedgpiece extending longitudinally of said rod with said rod extending therethrough,.and a plurality of flexible, resilient fingers adapted to be inserted outwardly through holes provided therefor in the wall of said channel, said fingers having taperingly enlarged bases adapted to wedge securely in said holes, the inner ends of said finger bases being disposed closely adjacent said rod, whereby removal of said fingers from said holding member is prevented.

GORDON W. JOHNSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

